Mpox case reported in a nonresident in Honolulu County

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting one additional case of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in a nonresident diagnosed in Honolulu County.

This is the fifth case diagnosed this year in Hawai‘i and brings the total number of cases reported to the state health department since June 3, 2022, to 51. Those at higher risk of mpox infection should consider being vaccinated with two doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine.

Individuals with mpox symptoms, including flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, or new or unexplained rash or sores, should immediately contact their health care provider. Testing and treatment are available.

Further information and updates on the illness can be found at health.hawaii.gov/mpox. The risk of mpox infection remains low for most Hawai‘i residents.

According to the health department, mpox is mainly spread through close, intimate contact with body fluids, lesion material, or items used by someone with the illness. The infection may be spread through large respiratory droplets, which generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged contact is required.

The current cases, both nationally and in Hawai‘i, are primarily spreading among social networks of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, according to state health officials. However, anyone who has close contact with someone with mpox is at risk of infection, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Laboratory testing of the latest case in Hawai‘i classified the illness as mpox clade II, the type that has caused the current global outbreak that began in 2022.

The DOH and health care providers in each county continue to vaccinate high-risk individuals. Find a provider offering the vaccine here. Those offering the vaccine on the Big Island are:

• Hāmākua-Kohala Health at 808-930-2751

• Kumukahi Health + Wellness at 808-331-8177 in Kona or Hilo at 808-982-8800

• Maika‘i Health at 808-333-3420

To stay protected during Pride events in Fall 2024, those at higher risk of mpox should complete the JYNNEOS vaccine series in the summer. It takes a minimum of four weeks to complete the vaccine series.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is available statewide. Those at higher risk for mpox and who should consider being vaccinated include individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender people who have sex with men; and have multiple or casual sex partners (such as through dating apps) or expect to have this mpox risk in the future.
• People who have a sex partner in any of the categories described above.
• Anyone with close contact in the last 14 days to a person with known or suspected mpox infection.
• Persons with severely compromised immune systems.
• Anyone in any of these categories who has received only one mpox vaccine dose.

Health officials advise individuals to ask new partners about their health, including recent rashes or sores. Partners who feel sick or have new or unexplained rashes or sores, should avoid close contact with others until getting checked out by a health care provider. Don’t share bedding, clothing, or toothbrushes with people outside your household.

If attending events with lots of direct, skin-to-skin contact, minimizing physical contact and partners can reduce risk.

The Centers for Disease Control has recently been increasing monitoring of mpox clade I activity in Africa including an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While mpox clade I has not been detected in the United States or Hawaiʻi during the current outbreak, it can cause more severe illness and deaths. Some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick, although more recent outbreaks have had lower death rates.